QUINTIN JAMES
Assistant Sports Editor
The big debate in college sports right now is whether or not Division I athletes should be paid for their contribution in sports and for bringing in money to schools. Another question that isn’t as popular, but is as important, is whether Division III athletes should earn athletic scholarships.
Currently, Division III schools don’t give athletic scholarships out because according to the NCAA, athletes in Division III schools play for love of competition. Schools can give out financial aid through leadership grants, but they are not full scholarships like Division I and II players are eligible for.
The argument of whether or not they should be eligible for athletic scholarship is a valid one because on one hand, Division III schools don’t always have the money to give out scholarships to all their athletes, but on the other hand, some DIII schools can afford to give out athletic scholarships and it would potentially bring in more athletes to play Division III sports.
If Division III schools started giving athletic scholarships to athletes involved in sports such as football, basketball and baseball, the schools’ enrollments would potentially grow and bring in more money to the schools. Students who were good athletes in high school but weren’t offered any DI scholarship would have the chance to still play in college and have their scholarship for their efforts in high school.
Also, offering athletic scholarships in DIII schools would be very beneficial to students whose parents don’t have the money to send their kid to college without a scholarship. Subsequently, lower income students would be able to have access to higher education and would be able to simultaneously continue playing sports they enjoy. The point of athletic scholarships are to persuade athletes to come to school to play a sport.
DIII sports aren’t as funded and high-tech as Division I schools, and if they gave out athletic scholarships, the revenue for sports would potentially grow and bring in money for DIII schools who normally don’t generate much revenue from sports.
If Fredonia gave out athletic scholarships for their sports, more athletes from the Buffalo area would consider attending Fredonia instead of other schools in the area that are known for sports. It would do the school wonders in terms of revenue and it would give more athletes access to a higher education.
Division III schools should be able to give out athletic scholarships to students. It makes perfect sense for many DIII schools that are struggling with finances and enrollment. It should be something DIII schools consider because they could potentially benefit themselves in the long run.